4 Day Group Itinerary in Central Illinois
Twinkling lights, historic homes dressed in garlands, and the enduring legacy of Abraham Lincoln create a holiday journey that feels both nostalgic and distinctly Illinois. This four-day itinerary winds through Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, Jacksonville, Monticello, and Rantoul, pairing presidential history and architectural treasures with Route 66 photo ops, festive markets, and illuminated winter walks. From Victorian mansions and Prairie School masterpieces to community caroling and even close encounters with reindeer, the experience blends small-town charm, seasonal traditions, and iconic landmarks into a heartwarming Midwest holiday escape, perfect for groups.
Enjoy these great attractions and more:
- Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitor Center
- American Giants Museum
- Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon
- Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch
Download your FREE Illinois Group Tour Planner and start planning your group trip today!
Central Illinois Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 in IL
Morning
Begin the day by seeing Bloomington’s David Davis Mansion decked out in Victorian Christmas finery. An influential lawyer, U.S. senator, and Supreme Court justice, Davis was a friend and mentor of Abraham Lincoln, helping him secure the 1860 Republican presidential nomination in Chicago. Then learn about Lincoln’s connections to the Bloomington-Normal area through attractive exhibit panels and a short video at Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitor Center on the ground floor of downtown Bloomington’s beautiful old courthouse, which houses the McLean County Museum of History.
Afternoon
After lunch, head over to the Beer Nuts plant and shop for the company’s glazed peanuts, almonds, and cashews, which are sold in all 50 states. The gift packs are perfect for Christmas giving.
On the way to Springfield, make a photo stop in Atlanta, a Historic Route 66 town that hosts the American Giants Museum, a new attraction that tells the story of the fiberglass “Muffler Men” once used for roadside advertising. Several restored statues stand outside. In the town of Lincoln, a few miles south, another Route 66 photo op awaits—the Railsplitter Covered Wagon. Billed as the world’s largest covered wagon, it depicts an oversized Abe Lincoln in the driver’s seat.
Evening
In Springfield, get into spirit of the season at Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo. Thousands of lights and lighted themed displays enchant holiday crowds on select weekends. Enjoy the hot chocolate bar or roast marshmallows over the fire pit for s’mores.
Day 2 of Central Illinois Activities
Morning
Begin your day in downtown Springfield with a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, renowned for its rare artifacts, interactive exhibits, and high-tech theater shows. At the nearby Old State Capitol, see where Lincoln delivered his famous House Divided speech and where his body lay in state after his assassination.
Old Capitol Holiday Walk is a downtown tradition during the day on Saturdays (and Wednesday nights). With musical performances and other festivities, it’s the perfect time to do some Christmas shopping at the locally owned stores.
Afternoon
Springfield’s most treasured homes, dressed in their seasonal best, are open on select days for self-guided visits during the holidays. At the 1902-1904 Dana-Thomas House, designed in the Prairie School style by Frank Lloyd Wright, Christmas decor complements the iconic art glass and woodwork. Edwards Place, a mansion that was once the social hub of Springfield’s elite, provides a peek into Victorian holiday traditions. The Vachel Lindsay Home, birthplace of the celebrated poet, is decorated to evoke early 20th-century charm.
If your group is in town the second Sunday in December, they can attend Caroling at the Carillon, a community sing-along accompanied by the magical sound of 67 bells beneath the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon in Washington Park.
Evening
For a hearty meal, try Springfield’s signature dish, the horseshoe, at D’Arcy’s Pint or Obed &Isaac’s Microbrewery. A horseshoe consists of your choice of meat and a pile of French fries on a bed of Texas toast, all smothered in cheese sauce. For smaller appetites, there’s the ponyshoe.
Day 3 of Things To Do in IL
Morning
From Springfield, head west to Jacksonville, one of Illinois’s most captivating small towns. Shop for antiques and gifts at the specialty stores around the downtown square, take in the stunning murals on brickwork, and admire the World’s Largest Advent Calendar. The gigantic calendar transforms the 110-foot-tall Farmers State Bank & Trust Company building into a Christmas countdown, with each of 24 windows revealing a symbol of the season daily from December 1-24. Just as a home Advent calendar contains candy, the bank lobby has candy to give out.
Afternoon
In Monticello, another delightful town, watch as molten glass is transformed into works of art at Prairie Fire Glass, a studio owned by glass artist Jim Downey. His one-of-a-kind jewelry, ornaments, and vases make good Christmas gifts.
Evening
Throughout December, Monticello’s Allerton Park & Retreat Center stages Holiday Glow, an illuminated winter walk that spotlights the formal gardens’sculptures and other works of art. Built in 1900 as a residence for artist and philanthropist Robert Allerton, the estate has 33 guestrooms in the Georgian manor house and three guesthouses. It is owned by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Day 4 Final Day in Central Illinois
At motorcoach-friendly Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul, a Christmas wonderland in November-December, visitors enjoy encounters with its herd of 16 Alaskan reindeer. In a setting with rebuilt 100-year-old barns and acres of Christmas trees, guests have a chance to get up close and friendly with Klondike, Flurry, Mistletoe, and other Dancer and Prancer look-alikes, and even give one a kiss. Groups can browse the quaint Country Barn Gift Shop and arrange a chuckwagon BBQ meal with Western-style entertainment.
Download your FREE Illinois Group Tour Planner and start planning your group trip today!
